My Anniversary model Gretsch, bought as an anniversary present to myself in 2008. I don't recall offhand what model year it is (EDIT: It's a 2008 - has the Gretsch 125th anniversary label on the back of the headstock), but it has the trestle bracing that became standard relatively recently. I'd always wanted a guitar with a Bigsby, and it's as nice as I imagined :). Goes great with a dinner jacket.

My Anniversary model Gretsch, bought as an anniversary present to myself in 2008. I don't recall offhand what model year it is, but it has the trestle bracing that became standard relatively recently. I'd always wanted a guitar with a Bigsby, and it's as nice as I imagined :). Goes great with a dinner jacket.

I love the color of the Gretsch Anniversary. For a while I really wanted to buy a Jr. and have it Jack-White-ified (DC) but an appeal to individuality got the better of me.

And speaking of guitars with bigsbys, if anyone ever has a line on a 52-53 LP goldtop with a bigsby that's for sale (preferably under 12k, so refin, headstock break, whatever is fine), please get in touch.

I would never buy an expensive guitar on ebay or anywhere else without being able to try it out and inspect it with a 100% money back return if I didn't like it. There are far too many amazing fakes out there. Even on lower priced vintage you have guys who strip them of parts , post, tail pieces, tuners, pick ups and replace them all with aged copies and resell the parts or build fakes.

If there are poor photos on ebay, that is clue number one you may be getting scammed. Buyer beware. And, do your research.

Be careful, there is a reason why '53 and some early '54 LP gold tops are cheap. They have a weird neck angle. Unless you hold it in your hands and play it it can't tell. That is why late '54's and later command higher prices.